‘Flying once a year, skipping the doctor’: Bengaluru CEO says India’s middle class is ‘suffering in silence’

A viral LinkedIn post by a Bengaluru-based CEO has ignited a heated debate on social media, highlighting the silent crisis facing India’s middle class. The post, which has gone viral, underscores the growing economic pressures on this demographic, with stagnant salaries and rising costs leaving many to absorb the burden in silence.

The CEO, Ashish Singhal, wrote that over the past decade, the middle class has been caught in a cycle of rising expenses and limited income growth. The group earning less than ₹5 lakh annually has seen a 4% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), while those earning between ₹5 lakh and ₹1 crore have experienced a mere 0.4% CAGR. Meanwhile, food prices have surged nearly 80%, and purchasing power has nearly halved, despite increased spending driven by credit.

‘This isn’t a collapse. It’s a well-dressed decline,’ Singhal wrote, noting that people are still managing to maintain a certain lifestyle—flying once a year, buying a phone, and paying EMIs—while cutting corners on savings and healthcare. The CEO also pointed out that while the wealthy are scaling up, the middle class is expected to absorb the economic shock without complaint or government intervention.

Social media reaction

Responding to the post, a founder noted that the middle class is quietly squeezed from both sides. However, the individual also suggested that the group’s reluctance to speak out is partly due to a culture of conformity and hard work, which has left them trapped between economic pressures and limited opportunities.

Another CEO remarked, ‘Good one. But, as CEO, what was the pay rise you gave to your employees vis-a-vis yours? That should be interesting to know.’ An individual added, ‘Crying on any platform won’t make any difference. India was moving on like this and will continue like this. Nothing’s gonna change here. Even after so much tax, there is nothing in return. Whoever can and gets the opportunity, just leaves the country, that’s it. But again, salary alone can’t make anyone wealthy anywhere in the world.’

The post has sparked a broader conversation about the economic realities facing India’s middle class, with many commenting on the lack of government support and the challenges of maintaining a middle-class lifestyle in a rapidly changing economic environment.

Conclusion

The CEO’s post has brought attention to the silent struggles of the middle class in India, highlighting the need for policy changes and economic reforms to address the growing inequalities and pressures faced by this demographic.